title: Whatman 3 MM dried blood spots for identifying alpha-thalassemia-1.
abstract: The present study was undertaken to assess the feasibility of whole dried blood spots to identify alpha-thalassemia-1 by PCR technique. Logistical constraints associated with sample collection and processing make the measurement of alpha-thalassemia-1 at community laboratories difficult. Dried blood spot samples provide a relatively convenient and minimally invasive means for collecting and transporting samples. We present Whatman 3 MM paper for spotting blood samples used for the first time for alpha-thalassemia-1 detection. Measurements of fresh EDTA whole blood and Whatman 3 MM dried blood spots prepared from venous blood were performed in 60 subjects. Whatman 3 MM dried blood spots results were precise and reliable. There was no actual difference in comparison to fresh EDTA whole blood samples. Whatman 3 MM dried blood spots for alpha-thalassemia-1 detection using the PCR technique showed no changes for 6 months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand. orathai19t@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Orathai
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tangvarasittichai
authors.forename: Jirapas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jongjitwimol
authors.forename: Surapon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tangvarasittichai
mesh_terms: D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000379:methods*; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D010209:Paper; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D017085:alpha-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004247:DNA